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Designed by: Melanie Sa'u, Sa'u Studio
Photography by: John Williams
Once a dated bachelor pad, this Grey Lynn villa has been transformed into a layered and resilient family home for a young couple balancing two children, busy careers, and a love of travel.
The brief was to create a residence that could withstand the realities of daily life while offering spaces of calm, connection, and quiet luxury.
Reimagined kitchen
At the centre of the home, the kitchen has been reimagined for both function and feeling.
A reoriented layout establishes clear zones for storage, preparation, and cleaning, supported by an integrated pantry and a bespoke island that balances sculptural detail with everyday utility.
By elevating the window line, bench space is maximised, while materials such as organic woodgrains, brushed nickel, and marble-inspired porcelain tie the room together.
Heritage features and lofty ceilings reframed
Heritage features and lofty ceilings were not disguised but rather reframed, allowing the old and new to sit comfortably side by side.
The bathrooms further the sense of retreat.
Master ensuite inspired by boutique hotels
In the master ensuite – inspired by boutique hotels – dark timber tones, Tuscan bronze fittings, and Carrara marble floors create a private sanctuary layered with bespoke detailing, from reeded glass partitions to custom mitred niches.
The family bathroom continues this narrative, balancing hard-working functionality with crafted elegance.
“A concealed laundry is seamlessly integrated behind heritage-profile doors, while a fluted freestanding bath beneath the original villa window becomes a sculptural focal point,” says Melanie Saiu, Sa’u Studio.
Travertine-look tops, aged bronze tapware, and deep green tiles add tactility and depth, delivering a room that feels both practical and composed.
Minor renovation works throughout the home complete the transformation.
New lighting enhances atmosphere
Lighting is updated to enhance atmosphere and task performance, while flooring has been refreshed to align with the warm and natural material palette, and walls have been repainted to sharpen and unify the architectural detailing.
Each layer works to bring cohesion and refinement to the villa as a whole.
Together, these interventions create a home of balance between hustle and stillness, heritage and modernity, practicality and poetry.
Each space has its own character, yet collectively they tell a story of family life elevated through design: resilient, refined, and designed to evolve with its occupants.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
Credit List
Renovating interior designerMelanie Sa'u, Sa'u Studio | BuilderMainline Construction |
Kitchen manufacturerGreenmount Interiors | Bedroom flooringJacobson Orchard Calville |
Bathroom tilesThe Tile Room | PaintResene Black White |
Feature light fittingsMr Ralph Mr Ted; Nightworks Tasman Pendant Kayu; Studio Linen Pendant | Dining table/chairsCintesi Dining Chairs from Greenmount Interiors |
Control SystemsPDL By Schneider | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Highly Commended |
Once a dated bachelor pad, this Grey Lynn villa has been transformed into a layered and resilient family home for a young couple balancing two children, busy careers, and a love of travel.
The brief was to create a residence that could withstand the realities of daily life while offering spaces of calm, connection, and quiet luxury.
Reimagined kitchen
At the centre of the home, the kitchen has been reimagined for both function and feeling.
A reoriented layout establishes clear zones for storage, preparation, and cleaning, supported by an integrated pantry and a bespoke island that balances sculptural detail with everyday utility.
By elevating the window line, bench space is maximised, while materials such as organic woodgrains, brushed nickel, and marble-inspired porcelain tie the room together.
Heritage features and lofty ceilings reframed
Heritage features and lofty ceilings were not disguised but rather reframed, allowing the old and new to sit comfortably side by side.
The bathrooms further the sense of retreat.
Master ensuite inspired by boutique hotels
In the master ensuite – inspired by boutique hotels – dark timber tones, Tuscan bronze fittings, and Carrara marble floors create a private sanctuary layered with bespoke detailing, from reeded glass partitions to custom mitred niches.
The family bathroom continues this narrative, balancing hard-working functionality with crafted elegance.
“A concealed laundry is seamlessly integrated behind heritage-profile doors, while a fluted freestanding bath beneath the original villa window becomes a sculptural focal point,” says Melanie Saiu, Sa’u Studio.
Travertine-look tops, aged bronze tapware, and deep green tiles add tactility and depth, delivering a room that feels both practical and composed.
Minor renovation works throughout the home complete the transformation.
New lighting enhances atmosphere
Lighting is updated to enhance atmosphere and task performance, while flooring has been refreshed to align with the warm and natural material palette, and walls have been repainted to sharpen and unify the architectural detailing.
Each layer works to bring cohesion and refinement to the villa as a whole.
Together, these interventions create a home of balance between hustle and stillness, heritage and modernity, practicality and poetry.
Each space has its own character, yet collectively they tell a story of family life elevated through design: resilient, refined, and designed to evolve with its occupants.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
[clean_tags]
Credit List
Renovating interior designerMelanie Sa'u, Sa'u Studio | BuilderMainline Construction |
Kitchen manufacturerGreenmount Interiors | Bedroom flooringJacobson Orchard Calville |
Bathroom tilesThe Tile Room | PaintResene Black White |
Feature light fittingsMr Ralph Mr Ted; Nightworks Tasman Pendant Kayu; Studio Linen Pendant | Dining table/chairsCintesi Dining Chairs from Greenmount Interiors |
Control SystemsPDL By Schneider | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Highly Commended |
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